Bulakan town wants DPWH road projects suspended amid complaints from residents, motorists

MANILA — An official of the municipal government of Bulakan, Bulacan on Friday called for the suspension of work on a road elevation project by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Barangay Taliptip that has been disrupting traffic over the past few weeks.

The DPWH said the road elevation project is meant to ensure that motorists are able to use the main road during high tide.

But the project itself has been affected by the high tides and recent rains, covering the road with a thick layer of mud that has made it difficult for residents and motorists to pass through.

“Hindi naman kami bato dito sa nararamdaman ng taumbayan, lalo na yung mga apektadong estudyante natin tsaka manggagawa,” said Municipal Engineer Ma. Emmie Fernando in an interview with ABS-CBN News.

(We can't be ignore what the people, especially students and workers affected by the project, are going through)

According to barangay officials, there have been more traffic accidents since the project began.

“Nung araw na pinuntahan namin, nung gabi na yun, 6 yung na-aksidente na motor na tumumba,” said  barangay secretary Christian Daet.

(The night before we went to the project site, there were 6 motorcycle accidents.)

Arlene Dagan, a resident, is among those who have experienced falling off her motorcycle while trying to use the road.

“Buti napreno ko, muntik nakong mahulog dito sa ilog,” she shared.

(If I had failed to stop the motorcycle, I would have fallen in the river.)

HIGH TIDE HAS ALREADY CAUSED DELAYS IN THE PROJECT

One of the DPWH engineers overseeing the project admitted that they have already pushed back the target completion date by about 15 to 30 days.

“June 25 siya originally (matatapos). Ngayon, magkakaroon tayo ng extension due to unworkable days. Yung high tide kasi malaking epekto sa kalsada. Tulad niyan, yung embankment kasi natin nawa-washout,” said Engineer RJ Domasig.

Domasig noted that another cause for delay is the other DPWH road elevation project that is also ongoing in neighboring Perez village.

“Ang nagiging access ng delivery natin ng embankment tsaka ng concrete, umiikot pa sila ng Obando para makarating dito sa site,” he added.

(Our construction supplies have to take a longer route through Obando to get here)

The road elevation in Perez has also disrupted the collection of trash in Taliptip, since big dump trucks are not allowed to cross.

Fernando said neither the project in Taliptip nor the one in Perez were properly coordinated with the municipal government.

“Parang bahay lang yan e. Sana po kumakatok sila sa pintuan ng isang tahanan bago sila gumawa. Ang problema, pumapasok na lang sila ng walang pahintulot,” she said.

(Like in a house, you should knock before entering. But the problem is they just came in without our consent.)

If she had been consulted, Fernando said, her office would have been able to help in the planning and implementation of the project so that it would not coincide with the rainy season and tidal flooding.

She hopes the DPWH’s district engineer will temporarily halt the project until they come up with a better implementation plan.

MANILA — An official of the municipal government of Bulakan, Bulacan on Friday called for the suspension of work on a road elevation project by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Barangay Taliptip that has been disrupting traffic over the past few weeks.

The DPWH said the road elevation project is meant to ensure that motorists are able to use the main road during high tide.

But the project itself has been affected by the high tides and recent rains, covering the road with a thick layer of mud that has made it difficult for residents and motorists to pass through.

“Hindi naman kami bato dito sa nararamdaman ng taumbayan, lalo na yung mga apektadong estudyante natin tsaka manggagawa,” said Municipal Engineer Ma. Emmie Fernando in an interview with ABS-CBN News.

(We can't be ignore what the people, especially students and workers affected by the project, are going through)

According to barangay officials, there have been more traffic accidents since the project began.

“Nung araw na pinuntahan namin, nung gabi na yun, 6 yung na-aksidente na motor na tumumba,” said  barangay secretary Christian Daet.

(The night before we went to the project site, there were 6 motorcycle accidents.)

Arlene Dagan, a resident, is among those who have experienced falling off her motorcycle while trying to use the road.

“Buti napreno ko, muntik nakong mahulog dito sa ilog,” she shared.

(If I had failed to stop the motorcycle, I would have fallen in the river.)

HIGH TIDE HAS ALREADY CAUSED DELAYS IN THE PROJECT

One of the DPWH engineers overseeing the project admitted that they have already pushed back the target completion date by about 15 to 30 days.

“June 25 siya originally (matatapos). Ngayon, magkakaroon tayo ng extension due to unworkable days. Yung high tide kasi malaking epekto sa kalsada. Tulad niyan, yung embankment kasi natin nawa-washout,” said Engineer RJ Domasig.

Domasig noted that another cause for delay is the other DPWH road elevation project that is also ongoing in neighboring Perez village.

“Ang nagiging access ng delivery natin ng embankment tsaka ng concrete, umiikot pa sila ng Obando para makarating dito sa site,” he added.

(Our construction supplies have to take a longer route through Obando to get here)

The road elevation in Perez has also disrupted the collection of trash in Taliptip, since big dump trucks are not allowed to cross.

Fernando said neither the project in Taliptip nor the one in Perez were properly coordinated with the municipal government.

“Parang bahay lang yan e. Sana po kumakatok sila sa pintuan ng isang tahanan bago sila gumawa. Ang problema, pumapasok na lang sila ng walang pahintulot,” she said.

(Like in a house, you should knock before entering. But the problem is they just came in without our consent.)

If she had been consulted, Fernando said, her office would have been able to help in the planning and implementation of the project so that it would not coincide with the rainy season and tidal flooding.

She hopes the DPWH’s district engineer will temporarily halt the project until they come up with a better implementation plan.

Fernando said she also learned that the DPWH itself is having trouble with the project contractor.

“Sila na rin po ang nagsasabi na yung contractor po ay hindi sumusunod doon sa mga materyales na nasa program of works so doon palang dapat sila sa DPWH ang magkaroon ng aksyon,” she said.

As of writing, ABS-CBN News is seeking comment from the DPWH District Engineering Office for comment.

But in the DPWH’s defense, it said the contractor started the road works in February, which was months before the rainy season.

“Kahit wala pang notice to proceed, nag-start na yung contractor dito dahil alam nila yung sitwasyon dito. Pero kahit nag-start ng maaga, medyo nagkaka-delay din talaga,” explained Domasig.

(Even without the notice to proceed, the contractor began work on the project because they know that it has to be done quickly. But even if you start early, there will sometimes be some delays.)

Fernando said she also learned that the DPWH itself is having trouble with the project contractor.

“Sila na rin po ang nagsasabi na yung contractor po ay hindi sumusunod doon sa mga materyales na nasa program of works so doon palang dapat sila sa DPWH ang magkaroon ng aksyon,” she said.

As of writing, ABS-CBN News is seeking comment from the DPWH District Engineering Office for comment.

But in the DPWH’s defense, it said the contractor started the road works in February, which was months before the rainy season.

“Kahit wala pang notice to proceed, nag-start na yung contractor dito dahil alam nila yung sitwasyon dito. Pero kahit nag-start ng maaga, medyo nagkaka-delay din talaga,” explained Domasig.

(Even without the notice to proceed, the contractor began work on the project because they know that it has to be done quickly. But even if you start early, there will sometimes be some delays.)